GRANT ENABLES SHELTER TO LOWER COSTS FOR SENIORS

Financial aid will be available for older low-income pet owners

Low-income senior citizens in Southwest County may be eligible for financial aid for their pets’ medical bills as a result of a grant recently received by the region’s animal shelter.

The Community Foundation of Riverside and San Bernardino counties recently awarded $12,358 to shelter operator Animal Friends of the Valleys, said the Wildomar site’s administrative supervisor, Kathy McIntire.

The grant comes from the Albert & Anna Herdina Memorial Fund for Animals, which the foundation administers.

McIntire said it is the first year the Herdina grant has been awarded to Animal Friends.

“We’re so grateful to the Community Foundation for allowing us to distribute these funds,” she said.

Money from the grant will be used to help defray the pet medical bills of owners who are 65 and older and have an income of $1,500 or less per month.

Valid through December, the grant can help pay for such needs as dental or medical care by a veterinarian, emergency care, euthanasia services, lab work, diagnostic testing, annual exams and vaccinations.

Earlier this year, Animal Friends reaped a $15,000 grant distributed by the foundation from the Mildred E. Smernoff Animal Care Fund. That resource also covers pet medical expenses and is available to all pet owners with a household income of $1,500 or less per month.

“There’s such a need for medical care from the families that can barely afford to put food on their table,” McIntire said. “If their animal needs teeth work or is sick, they don’t have the (financial) means to take that animal to a vet.”